2011 has been a bit of a patchy season for fungi so far, but the mushrooms often don't really get going in the south of the UK until October anyway. Unfortunately, the current forecast is for a run of the hottest October days on record and the long-term forecasts, for what they are worth, are suggesting that the warm weather may continue for as long as three weeks.
This may be very bad news for the fungi or it may not, dependening on weather this hot weather is accompanied by any storms. It is already quite dry in places out there and if there is no rain on the way then 2011 will end up being a non-memorable year for fungi. On the other hand, if the humidity starts rising and we get localised downpours at some point then there may well be a glut of fungi instead.
There are many species which are normally abundant of which I've seen very few or none at all so far this year, including both Penny Buns and Honey Fungus. They are waiting for the right conditions. If those conditions do not occur then the mycelium will just skip its mushroom production this year and may produce a bumper crop next year.
Whatever happens it should be interesting to see what the mushrooms do. As a general rule, unusual weather conditions lead to an unusual selection of fungi.
In a normal year, we would be winding down from the peak of the mushroom season at this point. In 2011, it is all over. The effect of the heatwave at the start of October was even worse than I feared it would be, at least in England. Scotland has had different conditions, but south of the border there are almost no fungi growing at all. The heat and dry has now been followed by a frost. Unless a miracle happens in the next three weeks, 2011 is going to have to go down as a very bad year for fungi in England and much of Wales.
Geoff
Posted By,
Kevin on
November 17,2011
We've only found one cepe this year, that was three weeks ago. Any tips right now? In Hertfordshire.
MY in-laws in Provence, France found a kilo of the beauties last week down there..grr
Posted By,
Geoff on
November 17,2011
Hi Kevin
There are a lot of mushrooms about right now, which is very, very late for the peak of the season. I've even seen some penny buns (ceps). But it is mainly blewitts, parasols, funnels and puffballs about at the minute.
Geoff
Posted By,
Kevin on
November 17,2011
Geoff
What are the absolute best trees to find ceps under in the UK? I need to try and catch up with the in-laws
Posted By,
Geoff on
November 17,2011
Penny Buns grow with all sorts of different trees.
Your biggest problem trying to find PBs is actually finding them before somebody else does, rather than finding where they grow.
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